If you've ever laughed aloud at AL JAFFEE's world-famous "Mad Fold-Ins" or "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions," you must not miss this rare opportunity to hear this fascinating figure discuss his incredible life story and the people he met along the way, including other pop-culture titans such as: Harvey Kurtzman, Will Elder, Bill Gaines, John Severin, Stan Lee, and many more.

Audience Q & A to follow.

About AL JAFFEE:A graduate of New York's High School of Music and Art, JAFFEE worked as an editor, writer and artist for Stan Lee at Timely (later Marvel) Comics during the 1940s. In 1955, JAFFEE joined "the Usual Gang of Idiots" at MAD Magazine, where he's been a mainstay ever since, entertaining generations with his Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions and Mad Fold-Ins. Join us as JAFFEE provides snappy answers to provocative questions about his art and life, including his new book, Tall Tales (Abrams) and his upcoming memoir.

About DANNY FINGEROTH:Moderator DANNY FINGEROTH, a longtime writer and editor at Marvel Comics,has spoken about comics at the Smithsonian Institution and The New School. He's the author of Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero (Continuum) and The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels (Penguin). Fingeroth is Senior VP of Education at New York's Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA).

We invite applications from academics (including graduate students) and independent scholars in various fields, including but not limited to Comparative Literature, English Studies, Cultural Studies, Communications and Media, Visual Studies, Art History, and Comics Studies.

The members of the Executive Committee collaborate to plan and present the ICAF conference, which since its founding in 1995 has been one of the most important annual events in comics studies. Among the qualities, backgrounds and/or specialties we are most actively seeking in candidates are:

Applicants should each send C.V. and a 1-2 page statement of purpose to Cécile Danehy (cdanehy at wheatonma dot edu) by January 4, 2010.

Please send all materials in Word 97-2004 format (with the extension .doc, not .docx) if possible.

We recommend that applicants consult ICAF's mission statement and past programs (at our website, http://www.internationalcomicartsforum.org) to get a sense of ICAF's purpose and character. Commitments to internationalism and interdisciplinarity are the backbone of ICAF and we will be looking for prospective colleagues with these qualities. In addition, we urge applicants to frame their statements of purpose in not only intellectual but also pragmatic terms, with emphasis on specialties and skills such as those noted above.

Swann Foundation Accepting Fellowship Applications Foundation Supports Research in the Humorous Arts of Caricature and Cartoon

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, is accepting applications for its graduate fellowship for the 2010-2011 academic year. Applications are due by close of business on Friday, Feb. 15, 2010, and notification will occur in the spring.

The Swann Foundation seeks to award one fellowship annually (with a stipend of up to $15,000) to assist in continuing scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. Depending on the number and quality of proposals, the advisory board may elect to make multiple, smaller awards.

A fellow is required to be in residence in Washington, D.C., for a minimum of two weeks, use the Library's extensive collections and deliver a public lecture at the Library on his or her work. Each fellow must also provide a copy of his or her dissertation, thesis or postgraduate publication upon completion, for the Swann Foundation Fund files.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a resident of the United States and a candidate for a master's or doctoral degree at a university based in the United States, Canada or Mexico. The applicant must be working toward completion of a dissertation or thesis for that degree or be engaged in postgraduate research within three years of receiving an M.A. or a Ph.D. Individuals who are not U.S. residents but who otherwise meet these academic qualifications may also apply and be considered for a fellowship, contingent upon their visa eligibility.

The applicant's research must be in the field of caricature and cartoon. There are no restrictions on the place or time period covered. To encourage research in a variety of academic disciplines, any university department may oversee a project proposed for the fellowship, provided the subject pertains to caricature or cartoon art.

Requirements for the fellowship applications include a statement of qualifications, a one-page abstract of the proposed project, a project description that specifies research needs and a budget, two letters of reference and official transcripts.

The Swann Foundation Fellowship in Caricature and Cartoon is one of a small number of scholarly fellowships that provide direct support for continuing graduate research in the field. It has supported groundbreaking research on caricature and cartoon that focuses on a variety of subjects and topics such as the Cold War; representations of race, class conflict and disease; and the early origins of caricature and political satire, and the cultural and social forces that have influenced the development of prominent cartoonists' work. For a list of research projects, visit www.loc.gov/rr/rint/swann/swann-fellowslist.html.

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon is overseen by an advisory board composed of scholars, collectors, cartoonists and Library of Congress staff members. The foundation's activities support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. New York advertising executive Erwin Swann (1906-1973) established the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon in 1967.

TICKETS

Acclaimed filmmaker and animation historian John Canemaker returns for a special presentation on pioneering cartoonist and animator Winsor McCay.

McCay is best known for his groundbreaking comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland and animation milestones Little Nemo (1911) and Gertie the Dinosaur (1914). Canemaker's lecture will be punctuated by film clips and cartoon images and will provide insight into one of the most important popular artists of the 20th century. The lecture is in conjunction with the exhibition Winsor McCay: Legendary Cartoonist at the Cartoon Library & Museum through December 31.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

-The ToonSeum, Pittsburgh's Museum of Cartoon Art, is excited to announce its move to Pittsburgh's Cultural District. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, the ToonSeum will open its doors at 945 Liberty Ave. The ToonSeum's new home is located in the Bruno Building, Downtown, just blocks from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and a stone's throw from other stellar cultural institutions and Downtown attractions.

The ToonSeum is one of only three museums in the nation dedicated exclusively to the cartoon arts. The ToonSeum has been hosted for the past two years by the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. Its new location will more than triple the ToonSeum's current space and allow for expanded exhibitions, educational programs, a permanent gallery and a space dedicated to local and independent artists. The move is made possible by a grant from the Grable Foundation.

"We're thrilled to welcome The ToonSeum to the Cultural District, as the organization adds a new dimension to the diverse programming in downtown Pittsburgh," said J. Kevin McMahon, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. "Their exhibits and hands-on, educational programs provide a unique opportunity to engage the community and to celebrate the art of cartooning."

The ToonSeum will feature new exhibitions every two to three months, beginning with "Enchanted Drawings: A Century of Animation." The exhibit will feature original art from Gertie the Dinosaur to Spongebob and more. On display will be rare artifacts, including an original animation director's desk from one of Disney's early studios. The ToonSeum will present exhibitions of local and independent cartoonists. The first featured local artist will be Ed Piskor. Piskor has worked with writer Harvey Pekar on projects such as "Macedonia" and "The Beats." His independent work includes the popular series "Wizzywig."

The ToonSeum has established an ambitious exhibition schedule for its first year, including one of the largest exhibitions of original art from the anime classic "Akira." Other exhibitions for 2010 will feature cartoon canines, Ziggy by Tom Wilson, and a chance to explore the social impact of the comic arts through "The Montgomery Story," a controversial civil rights comic. The ToonSeum also will present an ongoing lecture series and workshops for all ages. "This new location is part of our continued growth," says ToonSeum founder and Executive Director Joe Wos. "We are honored to be a part of the Cultural District and look forward to a greater exposure in the community and a chance to bring pop culture to the Cultural District."

The expansion, while only a little more than 1,000 square feet, includes a gift shop operated by Copacetic Comics. The ToonSeum's archive of more than 1,000 pieces of original comic and cartoon art is housed in Guardian Storage's climate-controlled facility in the Strip District.

The design of the new space is being headed by ToonSeum board member Dan Vitalie of Denham-Vitalie Design Associates, and the ToonSeum's signage and branding is being created by ToonSeum board Vice President Harold Behar of Behar-Fingal. Advance tickets for the opening weekend are available at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/87269. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children ages 5 to 17. Children younger than 5 are free. Visit us online at www.toonseum.org.